Brexiteer calls for leadership challenge to topple Theresa May

LONDON — Theresa May's future as U.K. prime minister hung by a thread Thursday after leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg formally called for her to "step aside."

Rees-Mogg, who leads an 80-strong caucus of hard-line Euroskeptics in the U.K. parliament, submitted a letter of no confidence in May's leadership of the Conservative Party following Wednesday's publication of a draft Brexit deal between the U.K. and EU.

Just 48 letters of no confidence are needed to trigger a formal vote of confidence in May's leadership, which she must win by a simple majority to remain prime minister.
In his letter to the chairman of the backbench Conservative Party 1922 committee — the body which overseas Tory leadership elections — Rees-Mogg said it is in the national interest for May to stand aside.

"The draft withdrawal agreement presented to parliament today has turned out to be worse than anticipated and fails to meet the promises given to the nation by the prime minister, either on her own account or on behalf of us all in the Conservative Party Manifesto."

He added: "Regrettably, this is not the situation, therefore, in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures of the Conservative Party and the 1922 Committee, this is a formal letter of No Confidence in the Leader of the Party, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May."